Brain Scan at Mayo Clinic

 

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2014

Brain Scan-Mayo Clinic

I arrived at Mayo Clinic early this morning, and can I just say that the people who drive to work between 7–8 am every day ... I am so sorry. It was stop-and-go the entire way to Mayo Blvd. I will be getting brain scans every three months. All that really is is an MRI, and 45 minutes of pounding and hammering on my brain--I survived. Not my favorite thing to do, but necessary for Dr. Barrs to see what is going on between my ear and my brain ...not much.

Let me explain this, doozie. When I arrived at the hospital, they took me in to prepare me for the scan. Included in the visit is an IV. I warned the nurse not to use anything less than a twenty-two needle and to not use my left arm, wrist, or hand. She smiled and assured me she knew what she was doing. I then announced, "Please listen to me, I know ..." then she plunged the size 20 needle into my left hand, and immediately I concluded, "you just blew out my vein" The nurse then said, "How did you know what size needle to use?"  "This is not my first rodeo. After 5 years of being poked and prodded, I've learned the left side has no veins left. If you had let me finish before you  stuck me, I would have let you know; my experiences have taught me" She then advised me, "Since you've had a port on your right side, you shouldn't use the right side, I'm sure your oncologist has told you not to use the right side for at least 10 years since your lymph nodes were removed?" "Um, no, he has never told me anything like that" "Who is your oncologist?" I looked up just in time to see a familiar face, and she recognized my face, also. I said, "Lindsay, right?" she hugged me, "Yes, how did you remember my name?" "I'm not sure, I just did, but I'm not sure why or who you are." She said, "I was your nurse on the fifth floor when you had your nerve go dead. How are you doing?" "I am fantastic, except for this blown-out vein ...... just here for a brain scan" "Oh dear, I'm sorry about the vein. Let me see if I can get a smaller needle and use the other hand." The previous nurse disappeared, and Lindsay finished. What a great surprise; I love running into the great staff who have served me over the years.

I love Mayo Clinic because they always have my results on the same day. I ate lunch, then met with Dr. Barrs. He is excellent; he always has a big smile and a sweet, compassionate heart. The brain scan results looked good, the cholesteatoma has no regrowth, and there was a little liquid build-up, but nothing for me to worry about. Dr. Barrs talked to me about facial paralysis; he wanted to know how I dealt with it. It's hard to say I'm OK with it; I'm not. Of course, I wish things were different; I explained I am trying to deal with 'being OK' if the nerve does not fuse back together. I added I'm not used to people looking at me and then quickly looking away. I have gotten to the point that I look away now, so they will not have to be uncomfortable. He then looked at me with a big smile and acknowledged that what I felt was expected but that he loved who I was my personality, and my heart. It was a good boost for me. I needed to hear exactly what he had to say.

I will be going to Cleveland Clinic next week for some more surgery on my eye; I think when I get home, I will finish all the other surgeries at Mayo Clinic.